If you’re located in the Greater Whittier Area and have a little one that is all about animals and farms, you’re in luck! The Storybook Zoo, located at Parnell Park in Whittier, is the PERFECT destination for a tiny farm tour.
The Storybook Zoo is home to 2 miniature horses, 1 donkey, 2 alpacas, 4 dwarf goats, 3 pot bellied pigs, several tortoises, and many chickens (and other birds).
The tiny Zoo is fenced off separately from the rest of Parnell Park. The gate is opened from 10am-2:30pm daily, except Thursdays (the animal’s day of rest). The fence is mostly see-through, so if you are there when the gate is closed, you can still catch a peek of the farm animals.
Previously, the playground located at Parnell was a little decrepit, missing slides and other equipment. As of January 2025, the entirety of the playground has been removed to make way for the new developments to the park! We are hoping that the playground arrives before the end of the year.
Even without the playground, the Storybook Zoo in Whittier, CA is a great destination to explore with littles. It is perfect for exposing them to farm animals while sticking around the suburbs!
Depending on your plan for the day, it can be a short visit (it takes no more than 10 minutes to speed-run). Alternatively, you can take your time and make a trip of it. I recommend using the mini farm as part of your homeschool studies (formal or informal!). Here is an example of a fabulous Montessori farm game: https://www.wbms.org/blog/language-development-with-the-farm-game?format=amp
I have visited here many times with my animal loving daughter throughout the years, starting at around 18 months. It was perfect during the learning animals stage. She loved coming to the farm and telling me all about the animals and how they sound! Even still at almost 4, she really enjoys this little zoo in Whittier 🙂
Always yours –
